The Roof of the World: Being a Narrative of a Journey Over the High Plateau of Tibet to the Russian Frontier and the Oxus Sources on Pamir

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Edmonston and Douglas, 1876 - 172 pages
 

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Page xx - The favourite amusement of the Botis, both of Ladak and of Balti, is Polo, in which all parties from the highest to the lowest can take a part. I saw the game played at Mulbil, in a field 400 yards long and eighty yards broad, which was walled round for the purpose; with a stone dyke. There were twenty players on each side, all mounted on ponies and armed with sticks about four feet long, and bent at the lower end. One player took the ball and advanced alone into the middle of the field...
Page 1 - Eastern etiquette; at chaogan in AD 1210.* The Pathan kings of India still continued to join in the game down to the time of Sikander Lodi, in AD 1498, when ' one day, •while the king and his court were playing at chaogan, the bat of Haibat Khan Shirwani by accident came in contact with the head of Suliman, the son of Darya Khan Lodi, -who received a severe blow. This was resented on the spot by Khizr Khan, the brother of Suliman, who, galloping up to Haibat Khan, struck him violently over the...
Page 1 - chaogan," but it is now completely forgotten. The old chaogan grounds still exist in every large town in the Punjab hills ; in Bilaspur, Nadon, Shujanpur, Kangra, Haripur, and Chamba, where the goal-stones are still standing. The game is repeatedly mentioned by Baber, but after his time it gradually became obsolete. It was introduced by the...
Page 78 - From the great ease with which an eagle disposes of a full-grown fox I could see that a wolf would have no better chance. Gazelles are seized in the same way, except those with horns, in which case the eagle first fastens on to the loins of the animal, and, watching his opportunity, transfers his grasp to the throat, avoiding the horns. " The burgoot, however, is not very easy to manage, and requires the whole of one man's care. Its dash and courage are great, but if flown unsuccessfully once or...
Page 1 - one day, while the king and his court were playing at chaogan, the bat of Haibat Khan Shirwani by accident came in contact with the head of Suliman, the son of Darya Khan Lodi, who received a severe blow. This was resented on the spot by Khizr Khan, the brother of Suliman, who, galloping up to Haibat Khan, struck him violently over the skulL In a few minutes both sides joined in the quarrel, and the field was in uproar and confusion. Mahmud Khan Lodi and Khan Khauan Lodi interposing, endeavoured...
Page 124 - Yassin, from which it takes its rise, four days from Tashkurgan. Little Pamir 'is bounded on the south by the continuation of the Neza Tash range, which separates it from the Taghdungbash Pamir...
Page 1 - The goals were formed of two upright stones, placed about twenty-five to thirty feet apart. When the ball was driven through a goal, one of the successful party was obliged to dismount and pick it up, for, if the opposite party should have driven it back before it was picked up, the goal did not count. The game consisted in winning a certain number of goals, either five, seven, or nine. Numerous musicians were in attendance, who made a most lively din whenever a goal was won, and the noise was increased...
Page 22 - The greatest difficulty they had to contend with was crossing streams, and while marching in the Karakash Valley they were sometimes obliged to cross the river three or four times in a day. Not only were their loads liable to become damaged, but the weight of water hanging in their fleeces, and on several occasions freezing, greatly impeded progress. On the days on which they had no grass, they had literally nothing to eat, as they refused grain, not being accustomed to it. One man was sufficient...
Page 1 - He goals, either fire, seven, or nine. Numerous musicians were in attendance, who made a most lively din whenever a goal •was won; and the noise was increased by the cheers of the successful party. " The game is a very spirited one, and well calculated for the display of bold and active horsemanship.* Accidental blows occur frequently, but the poor ponies are the principal sufferers. The game was once common in India under the name of Ckaogcin, but it is now completely forgotten.
Page 160 - ... mountain chains, between which lie elevated valleys, open and gently sloping towards the east, but narrow and confined, with a rapid fall towards the west. The waters which run in all, with the exception of the eastern flow from the...

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